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Harry Z, I suspect that your anti-Tysabri campaigning will start in the New Year. Or you could just admit that you were wrong and that Tysabri is a good drug. But you're too proud!

Ian

Gee Ian, that was kind of a cheap shot! I don't complain that you run a "pro Tysabri" campaign for a drug that has had limited trial info on it compared to what other MS drugs have had to endure. I just happen to be giving the readers a different perspective on this drug and look beyond all the marketing and sales pitches that Biogen/Elan have preached for the past couple of years.

Prior to Tysabri being originally approved, I and a few others in this forum expressed our concerns and caution about Tysabri. We endured the typical name calling and labels of Biogen bashers. Then they pulled Tysabri when it was discovered a couple of people died because of PML. The researchers had to go back to the drawing boards and try to figure out just what was happening. Some 5000 new Tysabri users were placed in limbo. The name calling suddenly stopped!!

Now that the FDA is doing a priority review on Tysabri and Biogen/Elan are starting up the press releases again (directed at the financial markets) I see an indication of the same comments surfacing. I've said many times over the past number of months that I think Tysabri will be re-approved but under much stricter guidelines and patient monitoring. Will Tysabri be good for some MS patients in the long run....perhaps but at this point, nobody knows for sure. It's too bad that you are translating these comments as being an "anti Tysabri campaign" and me being "too proud" to admit that this medication is wonderful! There are MS docs out there that have the same cautionary opinion on Tysabri and won't give it to their patients until far more safety data is available. I don't see you making similar comments to them as you have to me!

While I share your frustration at the lack of medications coming from trial results (I'm not though so critical of the individual researchers as you seem to be) I share also Harry's healthy scepticism of the pharma cos. Making profit out of misery is to my mind the real "unpleasant and unacceptable face of capitalism". And the real reason why the cure is still years away! (Take the rant against the creeping privatisation of the UK's health service as read )

And the prospect of making a decision about Tysabri (should we ever get it in the UK) scares me no end - it has killed people!!

As I read both your comments my own two cents (pence?) worth is that while I have an opinion it is based on hope. You two arguing is the closest I can get to differing viewpoints and it is INVALUABLE. Don't stop.

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